What selling internationally really costs you
Published August 9, 2026
Quick answer
Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 on domestic cards and 4.4% + $0.30 on international ones. On a $1,000 payment that is $29.30 against $44.30 — a 51% increase in processing cost for the same sale, and currency conversion is charged on top of it.
The rate change is larger than it looks
Going from 2.9% to 4.4% sounds like a 1.5 point difference. As a share of what you were already paying it is a 51% increase: $29.30 becomes $44.30 on a $1,000 payment. On thin-margin products that single change can be the difference between a profitable order and a break-even one.
Conversion is a separate charge again
The international card rate covers the card being foreign. Converting the money into your own currency is billed separately, commonly at around 1-2% on top. Fiverr does the same thing on withdrawals, adding 2-3% for non-USD. Whenever you see a foreign-transaction rate quoted, assume conversion is not in it unless it explicitly says so.
Compare against the alternatives before assuming
PayPal's goods and services rate of 2.99% + $0.49 costs $30.39 on the same $1,000 domestic payment, marginally more than Stripe's $29.30. The ranking between processors can flip depending on transaction size, because one has a higher percentage and the other a higher fixed fee. Run your own typical order value rather than trusting a general recommendation.
What to do with this
If international orders are a meaningful share of your sales, price them with the higher rate in mind rather than averaging everything at the domestic rate. Sellers who discover this after a year of international growth usually find the cost was quietly eating the margin that made the expansion look worthwhile.
Frequently asked questions
How much more do international cards cost?
With Stripe, 4.4% + $0.30 against 2.9% + $0.30 domestically. On a $1,000 payment that is $44.30 instead of $29.30, a 51% increase in processing cost.
Is currency conversion included in the international rate?
No. Conversion is charged separately, commonly around 1-2%, and applies on top of the international card rate.
Is PayPal or Stripe cheaper?
On a $1,000 domestic payment Stripe costs $29.30 and PayPal $30.39, so Stripe is marginally cheaper. The order can reverse on small transactions because PayPal's fixed fee is higher but its percentage is lower.